Collapsible drum



Oct. 28, 1941. J. H HITCHCOCK ET AL 2,260,902

coLLAPsLBLE DRUM 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 1'7, 1941 ATTORNEY Oc-t. 28, 1941. n J. H. HITCHCOCK ET AL 2,260,902

COLLAPSIBLE DRUM Filed March 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheekl 2 O ,7 u 7c, 428 lz [NVENTORS JOHN H. HITCHCO CK ALFRED R. KELLER ATTORNEY Oct`. 28., 1941. ,1. H. H'lTcHcocK ET AL 2,260,902

COLLAPS IBLE DRUM Filed March 17, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fly lo INVENTORS JOHN H. HITCHCOCK ALFRED R. KELLER BYMu//. ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 28, 1941 COLLAPSIBLE DRUM yJohn H. Hitchcock and Alfred R. Keller, Worcester, Mass., assignors to` Morgan. `Construction Company, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application March 1K7 11 Claims.

This invention relates to collapsible winding drums, and more particularlyto a revoluble drum arranged to present a cylindrical outer surface on which ilat strip material may be wound into a coil, the drum being collapsible to allow removal of the completed coil therefrom.

Drums of this general type are often used for lWinding strip metal under'tension, and in such service they are subjected to heavy crushing forces imposed by the successively applied layers of stock. Many of the prior constructions have failed under such severe operating conditions. It is desirable that the outer surface of the drum, .when in the expanded position, should be smooth and free from openings, as.otherwise there is danger of deiorming or marking the stock. Certaincollapsible drums heretofore utilized have employed hinged segments having interfltting ngers, which are objectionable from the above viewpoint. Still other `prior drums depend upon the inertia of the completed coil to bring about the collapse of the drum when the driving shaft is decelerated, but this arrangement is not positive, and the drum may fail to collapse when it is supposed to, or 'it may collapse prematurely uponr a relatively slight change in speed. Itis a known practice to construct a drum with hinged segments which are held inwardly by a spring. In -order to overcome the effect of centrifugal force, the spring has to be Very strong, and this makes it `difficult to expand the drum manually in opposition to the spring.

It is accordingly one object of the invention to provide a collapsible drum which will be of unusually strong and rigid construction, and which will present a substantially smooth cylindrical n outer surface when in its expanded position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive drum having manually operable means for expanding and collapsing the drum ina positive manner.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a drum having hinged segments which are urged inwardly by a spring, together with a simpleand advantageous means for limiting the outward movement of the segments under the influence of centrifugal forces.

With these and other objects in view, as vwill be yapparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth. in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

Referring to the drawings illustrating one embodiment of the invention and in which like reference numerals indicate like parts,

, 1941,.Seral-No. 383,720

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the outer end of a collapsible drum, shownv in its expanded position;

Fig, 2 is an elevation of the outer end of the drum, shown in its collapsed position; i

Fig. 3 is a View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 5, showing the drum in its expanded position;

Fig. 4 is a view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 6, showing the drum in its collapsed position;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a section on the line B--G of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a sectionon the line 'I-l of Fig, 1; Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Fig. l; Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. 1; Fig. 10 is a section on the line Ill-I0 of Fig. 2; Fig. 11 is a section on the line I I-II of Fig. 3; and

Fig, 12 is a section on the line I'2--I2 of Fig. 3. The embodiment illustrated comprises a horizontal rotatable shaft or arbor I5 which may be supported and driven by any suitable means (not shown). On the outer end of this shaft there is mounted a hub I6, relative rotation of these parts being prevented by a key II. A segment I9 is connected with the hub I6 and extends radially therefrom, this segment having a cylindrical outer surface 20 coaxial with the shaft I5. The hub I6 and segment I3 constitute a single and preferably integral rotatable member which is mounted on and positively driven by the shaft I5. 'Ihe segment 'I9 is provided with a narrow slot 2I for the insertion of the front end of the stock, the stockbeing held iirmly by means of grip cams 23 formed on a shaft 24 (Fig. 8) revolubly mounted vlx1-bearings 25 in the hub I6. The cam shaft is provided at its outer end with an integral square projection 26 which may be turnedby -means of a suitable-wrench to bring the cams 23 into proper engagement with the stock. 'f

Two segments28 and 29 are pivotally connected to the hub I6 at opposite sides of the ixed segment I9 by means of hinge pins 30,- each pin being held in place by a setscrew 3l (Fig. 7). The outer surfaces 33 of the hinged segments are cylindrical, and when these segments are moved outwardly, as shown in Fig, 1, the surfaces 33 are coaxial with the shaft I5. The hinged segments'are formed adjacent their free edges with inwardly facing flat surfaces 34 which converge in a radially outward direction.

The movements of the hinged segments-are controlled by a radially `movable spreader member 36 having two outwardly converging at lateral surfaces-3l connectedvby a shortcylindricaluouter surface 38. When the parts are in their expanded positions, the flat surfaces 31 will be in full contact with. the surfaces 34, and the cylindrical surface 38 will form a continuation of the surface 33, thus providing a drum with a substantially continuous outer cylindrical surface, as shown in Fig. 1. The member 36 is provided with two spaced parallel legs 4D (Fig. 2) which extend inwardly and straddle the hub I6, and the latter is formed with flat parallel surfaces which engage the inner surfaces of these legs to guide the member in its radial movements.

The expansion and contraction of the drum are controlled by cam mechanism. vFor this purpose a shaft 42 is rotatably mounted `in suitable anti-friction bearings 43 (Fig. 5) in the spreader member 36, the axis of the shaft being parallel with the drum axis. On this shaft, there are two axially spaced rollers 44 which are in contact with two cams 46 rotatably mounted on the hub I6 at opposite sides of the legs 48. 'Ihese cams surround the hub and they are retained in place thereon by means of an annular washer 41 fastened to the inner end of the hub and a circular plate 48 fastened to the outer end of the hub. r

A screw 50 extends axially through the plate 48 into the outer end of the shaft I to hold the drum in place thereon. Each cam is provided with an operative outer surface including a concave cylindrical pocket 52 (Fig. 1) connected by a convex surface 53 to a second concave `cylindrical pocket 54 (Fig. 2). Each of these pockets has a radius substantially equal to that of the rollers 44. The pockets 54 are located farther from the axis of the drum than the pockets 52,

a square projection 68 to which a suitable wrench may be applied. The hub I6 is formed with a cylindrical recess 62 (Figs. 9 and 10) in its outer end to receive a slidable locking pin 63 which is urged outwardly by a coiled spring 64. This pin is notched at 65, and the parts are so arranged that when the drum is fully expanded the pin will be moved outwardly just beyond the last of the teeth 56 on the outer cam 46, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, thus preventing any accidental collapsing of the drum. To release the pin, it may be pushed inwardly by a screw driver or other suitable tool so that the teeth 56 may pass over the pin, as shown in Figs. 2 and 10.

The hinged segments 28 and 29 are biased yieldably inward against the spreader member 36. For this purpose a swivel member 61 is pivotally mounted on the segment 29, and a swivel member 68 is pivotally mounted on the segment 28. These swivel members are held in place by means of snap rings 69 (Figs. 11 and 12). A rod 1I is secured at one end to the member 61 by means of nuts 12, and the other end of the rod extends slidably through the member 68 and is enlarged to provide a head 13. This head engages the member 68 when the drum is expanded, as shown in Figs. 3 and l2., to prevent the segments from swinging outwardly under the influence of centrifugal force, y A cup 15 is mounted on the rod 1I near the member 61, and a similar cup 16 is formed on themember 68. These cups clockwise direction.

are provided with inwardly projecting lugs 11 (Figs. 11 and 12) which engage the end portions of a coiled tension spring 19, this spring surrounding the rod 1I between the two cups. The tension of the spring will bias the hinged segments inwardly in a desired manner.

The operation of the invention will now be apparent from the above disclosure. With the shaft I5 stationary, the operator will apply a wrench to the projection 60 and turn it in a By the coaction of the pinions 51 and gear teeth 56, this will turn the cams 46 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig, l. 'I'he cams, by engagement with the rollers 44, will force the spreader member 36 radially outward until the surface 38 thereof forms a smooth connection between the surfaces 33 of the segments. Further movement will be prevented by engagement of the head 13 With the member 58. At this time the rollers 44 will rest in the pockets 54, and the locking pin 63 will snap outwardly under the influence of the spring 64 to prevent reverse movement of the cams. The front end of the stock Will now be inserted in the slot 2I, and the projection 26 will be turned by a suitable wrench to bring the cams 23 into gripping engagement with the stock. Power will thereupon be applied to the shaft I5 to rotate the entire drum and Wind the stock into a coil thereon. Upon completion of the coil the shaft will be stopped, the grip cams 23 released, the locking pin 63 depressed, and the pinions 51 rotated in a counterclockwise direction, thus .rotating the cams 46 in a clockwise direction.

This will allow the spring 19 to pull the hinged segments 28 and 29 inwardly, forcing the spreader member 36 radially inward, and collapsing the drum, Ihe coil can then be readily withdrawn from the drum in an axial direction.

When the drum is fully expanded, it provides a substantially continuous smooth cylindrical outer surface, thus avoiding the danger of marking the stock. Since the rod 1I restrains the hinged segments against outward movement under the influence of centrifugal force, the spring 19 need merely be strong enough to move the segments inwardly when the drum is stationary and the cams 46 are turned to collapse the drum. Because of the comparative lightness of this spring, very little effort is required to expand and collapse the drum. During the formation of each coil, the inward pressure against the spreader member 36 is transmitted by the rollers 44 to the cams 46, and since the rollers ilt closely in the pockets 54 and make Contact therewith over a substantial area, the unit stresses in the various parts are Well within safe limits. As the shaft I5 changes speed there is no tendency for the drum to expand or collapse by reason of the inertia of the coil, since the segment I9 is firmly keyed to the shaft. The bifurcated construction of the spreader member 36 ensures accurate guiding thereof during its radial movements.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a spreader member located between the free ends of the said two segments and slidable radially on the hub, and a cam rotatably mounted on the supporting member and arranged to move the spreader member radially.

2. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a yspreader member located between the free ends of the said two segments and slidable radially on the hub, a cam rotatably mounted on the supporting member and arranged to move the spreader member radially outward to expand the drum, and releasable means to lock the cam positively to the supporting member and prevent such movement of the cam as would allow the drum to collapse.

3. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a spreader member located between the free ends of the said two segments and provided with two spaced parallel inwardly extending legs, the hub slidably supporting the legsI to allow radial movement of the spreader member, and means to move the spreader member radially and control the expanding and collapsing of the drum.

4. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a spreader member located between the free ends of the sai-d two segments and provided with two spaced parallel legs which extend inwardly and straddle the hub, the hub having dat parallel surfaces which engage the inner surfaces of the legs and slidably support the spreader member for radial movements, and means to move the spreader member radially and control the expanding and collapsing of the drum.

5. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a spreader member located between the free ends of the said two segments and slidable radially on the hub, and a cam surrounding the hub and rotatable thereon to move the spreader member radially.

6. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a spreader member located between the free ends of the said two segments and slidable radially on the hub, a cylindrical roller mounted on the spreader member, and a cam surrounding the hub and rotatable thereon to engage the roller and move the spreader member radially, the-cam having a concave cylindrical pocket therein arranged to receive the roller when the cam has been rotated to expand the drum fully.

7. A collapsible .drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a spreader member located between the free ends of the said two `segments and' provided with two spaced parallel legs which extend inwardly and. straddle the hub, the hub having hat parallel surfaces which engage the inner surfaces of the legs and slidably support the spreader member for radial movements, two cams surrounding the hub on opposite sides of the legs, and means to rotate the cams in unison about the hub, the cams controlling the radial movements of the spreader member.

8. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member including a hub and a segment, two segments hinged to the member at opposite sides thereof, a spreader member located between the free ends of the said two segments and provided with two spaced parallel legs which extend inwardly and straddle the hub, the hub having flat parallel surfaces which engage the inner surfaces of the legs and slidably support the spreader member for radial movements, two axially aligned spaced rollers mounted on the spreader member, two cams surrounding the hub on opposite sides of the legs and engaging the respective rollers, and means to rotate the cams in unison about the hub, the cams controlling the radial movements of the spreader member.

9. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member, two segments hinged to the member, spring means biasing the segments inwardly, cam mechanism to move the segments outwardly in opposition to the spring means, and means positively limiting the outward movement of the segments.

l0. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member, two segments hinged to the member, a tension spring connected at its ends to the respective segments to bias them inwardly, cam mechanism to move the ysegments outwardly in opposition to the spring, and means positively limiting the outward movement of the segments.

1l. A collapsible drum comprising a rotatable supporting member, two segments hinged t0 the member, a coiled tension spring connected at its ends to the respective segments to bias them inwardly, cam mechanism to move the segments outwardly in opposition to the spring, and a rod extending axially through the spring and connected at one end to one segment, the rod having an' abutment on its opposite end to limit positively the outward movement of the segments.

JOHN H. HITCHCOCK. ALFRED R. KELLER. 

